3.1 Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count

Word classification used the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count 2015 (LIWC) dictionary (Pennebaker et al., 2015) and tokenising tools from the Quanteda R package (Benoit, 2018). Word counts and words-per-sentence, and calculations for determining grade level (Kincaid, Fishburne, Rogers, & Chissom, 1975) were produced using stringi (Gagolewski, 2018), an R wrapper to the ICU regex library.

Following research by Yu (2014) and Newman, Groom, Handelman, & Pennebaker (2008) on gender differences in language, we focused on the following LIWC categories to compare MPs’ speeches:

• All Pronouns (pronoun)
• First person singular pronouns (i)
• First person plural pronouns (we)
• Verbs (verb)
• Auxiliary verbs (auxverb)
• Social processes (social)
• Positive emotions (posemo)
• Negative emotions (negemo)
• Tentative words (tentat)
• Articles (article)
• Prepositions (preps)
• Anger words (anger)
• Swear words (swear)
• Cognitive processes (cogproc)
• Words longer than six letters (Sixltr)

We also included mean words-per-sentence (WPS), total speach word count (WC) and Flesch–Kincaid grade level (FK) (Kincaid et al., 1975), calculated using the Quanteda (Benoit, 2018) and stringi (Gagolewski, 2018) R packages.

3.2 POS Analysis

Part-of-Speech Effect Sizes for Male and Female Labour MPs

	Women		Men		Effect Size
Word Type	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Cohen’s d	Magnitude
All Nouns	22.17	9.56	21.67	10.92	-0.05	negligible
Plural Nouns	5.86	3.71	5.04	3.79	-0.22	small
Singular Nouns	15.61	9.81	16.01	11.16	0.04	negligible
Adjectives	9.58	4.77	9.28	5.29	-0.06	negligible
Adverbs	4.91	4.25	5.06	4.91	0.04	negligible
Verbs	20.97	9.52	20.81	10.28	-0.02	negligible

Part-of-Speech Effect Sizes for AWS and non-AWS Labour MPs

	All Women Shortlists		Open Shorlists		Effect Size
Word Type	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Cohen’s d	Magnitude
All Nouns	22.16	8.72	22.18	9.97	-0.04	negligible
Plural Nouns	6.03	3.59	5.77	3.76	-0.16	negligible
Singular Nouns	15.50	8.93	15.67	10.23	0.03	negligible
Adjectives	9.83	4.58	9.45	4.86	-0.02	negligible
Adverbs	4.95	3.76	4.89	4.49	0.03	negligible
Verbs	20.92	9.02	21.00	9.77	-0.02	negligible

Part-of-speech (POS) tagging was done using the spaCy library (Honnibal & Montani, 2017) and the spacyr package (Benoit & Matsuo, 2018). There is one small gender difference (d = -0.22) in the use of plural nouns, which make up 5.86% of the words used by female Labour MPs, compared to 5.04% of words spoken by male Labour MPs. As with LIWC, there are no categories where d >= \(|0.2|\) when comparing female Labour MPs by selection process, and only one category – plural nouns – with an effect size of d >= \(|0.1|\).

3.3 Keyness

We calculated the keyness of words to identify gender differences in the choices of topics raised and terminology used by both male and female Labour MPs, and by short-list and non-shortlist female Labour MPs. We have also calculated keyness between Labour and Conservative MPs for the purposes of illustration. All keyness figures include the 25 most disproportionately common words among each group, as determined by \({\chi}^2\) tests using quanteda (Benoit, 2018).

3.4 Bigrams

We created bigrams of all first person plural and singular pronouns for female Labour MPs. As above, AWS MPs are far more likely to make references to their constituency or their constituents.

3.5 Naive Bayes classification

We trained a Naive Bayes classifier with document-frequency priors and a multinomial distribution to predict the gender of speakers when given speeches by all Labour MPs in our dataset, and the selection process when only given female Labour MPs. The accuracy of both models were roughly equivalent, 70.67% accuracy when predicting gender and 71.22% when predicting shortlists. By contrast, the classifier could distinguish between Labour and Conservative speeches with 74.23% accuracy.

3.6 Topic Models

Using topic models to classify text is widely used in social sciences (Grimmer & Stewart, 2013), as, when combined with the large volume of plain text data available, it allows for a rapid and consistent method of analysis . Topic modelling and other statistic methods of textual analysis are not a substitute for reading the texts themselves, but can augment other analysis or – as in this case – analyse and classify larger amounts of text than would be feasible using human coders (Grimmer & Stewart, 2013). Topic models classify a series of documents (in this case individual speeches) into one of a given number of topics, identifying terms that are common in some documents but rare in others. When developing topic models, there is a trade-off between high precision in the classification of each document with broader topics when using smaller numbers of topics, or lower precision in individual speech classification with more finely-grained topics when using larger numbers of topics. Grimmer & Stewart (2013) also highlight the importance of validating unsurpervised topic models when applied to new sets of texts, which we have done below.

The R package stm (Roberts, Stewart, & Tingley, 2018) implements a structured topic model (STM) (Arora et al., 2013; Roberts, Stewart, & Airoldi, 2016). An STM incorporates covariates into the topic classification algorithm, creating possibilities for hypothesis testing. This differs from traditional topic modelling methods using latent variables to identify topics (e.g. with latent Dirichlet allocation Blei, Ng, & Jordan, 2003), and then comparing proportions of each topic to one or more external variables. STM allows us to incorporate the variables we are interested in to the topic model itself using a generalised linear model; i.e. the proportion of speechs classified as belonging to each topic can vary as a function of the AWS and gender variables.

We incorporated the AWS status of speakers and their gender as prevalence covariates into our topic model.

We created six topic models with different numbers of topics (K). We created models with 30, 45, 60, 80 and 100 topics, and used an algorithm developed by Lee & Mimno (2014), implemented in the stm package (Roberts et al., 2018), which resulted in K = 66. Figure shows, clockwise from the top-left, heldout likelihood [explain], lower bound [explain], semantic coherence (Mimno, Wallach, Talley, Leenders, & McCallum, 2011), and the multinomial dispersion of the STM residuals (Taddy, 2012),

As seen in Figure , the K = 66 result appears to produce the best result, a topic model with 66 topics, across 251,072 speeches with a dictionary of 241,625 words. All models were created using the “spectral” method developed by Arora et al. (2013), implemented in the stm package by Roberts et al. (2018).

One of the topics – Topic 66 – is never the most likely topic in the matrix of number of documents by number of topics – labelled \(\theta\) by Roberts et al. (2018) – and so while it is included in the model, assignment of single topics to speeches uses the highest \(\theta\) for each speech. Other topics are rarely used – Topic 53, which we labelled “Dispatch Box”, only has five topics assigned to it, four from Male MPs and one from an AWS MP.

Figure is a Fruchterman-Reingold force-directed diagram (Fruchterman & Reingold, 1991) of correlations between different topics. Larger vertices indicate more common topics, and the colour scale indicates the proportion of speeches classed in that topic made by AWS and non-AWS female Labour MPs, respectively. Edges indicate positive correlations between the two linked topics.

The stm package includes the estimateEffect function, which creates a regression model (Table 9) using individual documents (speeches) as observations, with the proportion of a each document fitting each topic as the dependent variable and model covariates (AWS status and gender) as independent variables. The intercept in this model is all speeches by male Labour MPs.

Topic Estimates

	Estimate	Standard Error	t value	Pr(>|t|)
Topic 1 – Employment & unions
Intercept	0.0120878	0.0001165	103.7197503	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0003810	0.0003152	-1.2086545	0.23
AWS	-0.0013425	0.0002462	-5.4524847	< 0.001	***
Topic 2 – Legal system
Intercept	0.0167073	0.0001807	92.4456042	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0069619	0.0005414	12.8594336	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0033127	0.0003284	-10.0881608	< 0.001	***
Topic 3 – Roads
Intercept	0.0116636	0.0001539	75.8065626	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0014880	0.0004093	-3.6354260	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0019521	0.0002977	-6.5568837	< 0.001	***
Topic 4 – Housing
Intercept	0.0112824	0.0001697	66.5002232	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0044584	0.0004867	9.1606890	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0060412	0.0003717	16.2509038	< 0.001	***
Topic 5 – Police, firefighters & prison
Intercept	0.0140708	0.0001772	79.4090929	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0032592	0.0005277	6.1760547	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0003215	0.0003600	-0.8929765	0.37
Topic 6 – Northern Ireland
Intercept	0.0089511	0.0000477	187.6762538	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0000909	0.0001253	0.7256671	0.47
AWS	-0.0003738	0.0001131	-3.3055045	< 0.001	***
Topic 7 – Committee
Intercept	0.0213275	0.0001402	152.0808233	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0007053	0.0003778	-1.8665872	0.062
AWS	-0.0019513	0.0002695	-7.2414395	< 0.001	***
Topic 8 – Schools
Intercept	0.0147216	0.0001998	73.6946174	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0009629	0.0005030	-1.9144999	0.056
AWS	0.0021239	0.0004180	5.0810609	< 0.001	***
Topic 9 – Energy & climate change
Intercept	0.0170599	0.0001997	85.4395693	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0011701	0.0005240	-2.2331311	0.026
AWS	-0.0035162	0.0004352	-8.0791703	< 0.001	***
Topic 10 – Defence
Intercept	0.0157879	0.0001960	80.5622700	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0075466	0.0004666	-16.1743503	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0054234	0.0003707	-14.6290075	< 0.001	***
Topic 11 – Parliament
Intercept	0.0118979	0.0000780	152.4772016	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0036949	0.0002003	-18.4467310	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0010964	0.0001547	-7.0857345	< 0.001	***
Topic 12 – International politics
Intercept	0.0126075	0.0001309	96.3168538	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0042329	0.0003197	-13.2416445	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0054763	0.0002592	-21.1237522	< 0.001	***
Topic 13 – Ministers
Intercept	0.0167421	0.0001102	151.8882491	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0029730	0.0002828	-10.5109108	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0031466	0.0002352	13.3774397	< 0.001	***
Topic 14 – Policy impact
Intercept	0.0115302	0.0000459	251.4641894	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0002485	0.0001403	1.7710959	0.077
AWS	0.0013681	0.0001036	13.2044108	< 0.001	***
Topic 15 – Gender
Intercept	0.0048727	0.0001177	41.4094648	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0123737	0.0003762	32.8913879	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0119861	0.0003404	35.2071183	< 0.001	***
Topic 16 – Regional development
Intercept	0.0230389	0.0001294	178.0930817	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0070464	0.0003591	19.6216388	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0002652	0.0002577	1.0290190	0.30
Topic 17 – Communications
Intercept	0.0097576	0.0001219	80.0144325	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0006793	0.0003576	-1.8994880	0.058
AWS	-0.0011976	0.0002649	-4.5216601	< 0.001	***
Topic 18 – Immigration
Intercept	0.0087069	0.0000954	91.2603658	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0007386	0.0002701	2.7352156	0.006	**
AWS	-0.0004153	0.0001896	-2.1908890	0.028
Topic 19 – Health system
Intercept	0.0161551	0.0002162	74.7090681	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0112524	0.0006432	17.4956211	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0062993	0.0004773	13.1973842	< 0.001	***
Topic 20 – International development
Intercept	0.0160713	0.0001993	80.6278360	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0004194	0.0005254	0.7981813	0.42
AWS	-0.0033527	0.0003846	-8.7167408	< 0.001	***
Topic 21 – Benefits & disability
Intercept	0.0120320	0.0001424	84.4678321	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0009218	0.0003803	2.4241165	0.015
AWS	0.0120279	0.0003149	38.1929006	< 0.001	***
Topic 22 – Sport & culture
Intercept	0.0127190	0.0001621	78.4688321	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0024706	0.0004138	-5.9703426	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0007447	0.0003267	2.2795017	0.023
Topic 23 – History
Intercept	0.0137433	0.0001078	127.4899255	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0060891	0.0002707	-22.4939047	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0040079	0.0002050	-19.5533523	< 0.001	***
Topic 24 – Higher education & skills
Intercept	0.0143143	0.0001657	86.3679689	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0010161	0.0004360	-2.3308295	0.020
AWS	-0.0001187	0.0003382	-0.3510073	0.73
Topic 25 – Concurring point
Intercept	0.0155251	0.0000456	340.1375115	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0018971	0.0001193	-15.8982760	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0030027	0.0000874	-34.3703617	< 0.001	***
Topic 26 – Pensions
Intercept	0.0146930	0.0001644	89.3671042	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0007041	0.0004244	1.6590969	0.097
AWS	0.0026241	0.0003283	7.9921504	< 0.001	***
Topic 27 – Points of order
Intercept	0.0177836	0.0001285	138.4473569	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0065323	0.0003178	-20.5548984	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0048141	0.0002487	-19.3602209	< 0.001	***
Topic 28 – Issues
Intercept	0.0344877	0.0000996	346.3714353	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0070247	0.0002806	25.0317360	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0025873	0.0001991	-12.9931954	< 0.001	***
Topic 29 – Constituencies
Intercept	0.0131812	0.0000489	269.3165720	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0011058	0.0001418	7.7965760	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0029674	0.0001067	27.8022737	< 0.001	***
Topic 30 – Ethnic groups & racism
Intercept	0.0085786	0.0000747	114.8716095	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0019097	0.0002190	8.7201118	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0019263	0.0001706	11.2936595	< 0.001	***
Topic 31 – Amendments
Intercept	0.0149892	0.0001578	95.0116017	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0017682	0.0004272	-4.1393215	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0033163	0.0003278	-10.1159883	< 0.001	***
Topic 32 – Reports
Intercept	0.0169549	0.0001055	160.7352492	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0012172	0.0002906	4.1890044	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0013432	0.0002378	5.6495257	< 0.001	***
Topic 33 – People
Intercept	0.0377541	0.0001140	331.1922896	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0022830	0.0002853	-8.0020366	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0010471	0.0002453	-4.2683701	< 0.001	***
Topic 34 – Wales & Scotland
Intercept	0.0135424	0.0001625	83.3351438	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0047705	0.0003679	-12.9658978	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0023222	0.0003020	-7.6899974	< 0.001	***
Topic 35 – Alcohol & tobacco
Intercept	0.0108961	0.0001606	67.8366113	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0008367	0.0004297	-1.9470649	0.052
AWS	0.0011919	0.0003144	3.7912405	< 0.001	***
Topic 36 – Place names
Intercept	0.0083691	0.0000668	125.3348056	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0000201	0.0001839	0.1095173	0.91
AWS	0.0011695	0.0001439	8.1288028	< 0.001	***
Topic 37 – Budget
Intercept	0.0246567	0.0001726	142.8440333	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0023151	0.0004562	-5.0752828	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0007173	0.0003664	1.9574684	0.050
Topic 38 – Tax
Intercept	0.0193464	0.0001866	103.7045489	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0013559	0.0005290	-2.5630049	0.010
AWS	0.0054447	0.0003805	14.3106178	< 0.001	***
Topic 39 – Private companies
Intercept	0.0123793	0.0001253	98.7991149	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0005567	0.0003571	1.5587397	0.12
AWS	-0.0017965	0.0002437	-7.3725615	< 0.001	***
Topic 40 – Environment & fishing
Intercept	0.0094611	0.0001529	61.8773179	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0030998	0.0003545	-8.7447616	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0021435	0.0002943	-7.2823198	< 0.001	***
Topic 41 – Crime
Intercept	0.0141417	0.0001685	83.9390282	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0086053	0.0005396	15.9482423	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0034705	0.0003617	9.5959598	< 0.001	***
Topic 42 – Bills
Intercept	0.0244469	0.0001477	165.5088933	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0021402	0.0004131	5.1813793	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0029690	0.0002777	-10.6907378	< 0.001	***
Topic 43 – Children
Intercept	0.0076748	0.0001318	58.2192133	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0092060	0.0004020	22.9002073	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0095695	0.0002785	34.3604552	< 0.001	***
Topic 44 – Utilities & PFI
Intercept	0.0123343	0.0000947	130.2237407	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0007793	0.0002336	-3.3361768	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0002432	0.0001882	1.2923235	0.20
Topic 45 – Middle East
Intercept	0.0174941	0.0002070	84.5105955	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0028422	0.0005201	-5.4643415	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0017110	0.0004323	-3.9577373	< 0.001	***
Topic 46 – Local authorities
Intercept	0.0179670	0.0001428	125.8631815	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0044516	0.0004091	10.8810319	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0001235	0.0003122	0.3956712	0.69
Topic 47 – Elections
Intercept	0.0181758	0.0001773	102.5372686	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0091680	0.0004181	-21.9262581	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0068076	0.0003399	-20.0272833	< 0.001	***
Topic 48 – Debate
Intercept	0.0180048	0.0000743	242.3086768	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0034968	0.0001991	-17.5609063	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0009797	0.0001463	-6.6961215	< 0.001	***
Topic 49 – Transport
Intercept	0.0164463	0.0002009	81.8737474	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0027555	0.0005213	-5.2862444	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0008788	0.0003939	2.2309711	0.026
Topic 50 – Questions
Intercept	0.0161736	0.0000751	215.4118514	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0001342	0.0001919	0.6992798	0.48
AWS	0.0002167	0.0001602	1.3529327	0.18
Topic 51 – Families
Intercept	0.0101065	0.0001119	90.2937989	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0019089	0.0003342	5.7125626	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0058701	0.0002475	23.7192595	< 0.001	***
Topic 52 – Health research
Intercept	0.0088034	0.0001494	58.9166750	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0076348	0.0004357	17.5222299	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0036106	0.0003257	11.0867708	< 0.001	***
Topic 53 – Dispatch box
Intercept	0.0075504	0.0000224	337.1444588	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0011342	0.0000544	-20.8552563	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0009564	0.0000451	-21.1903232	< 0.001	***
Topic 54 – Parties
Intercept	0.0248210	0.0001234	201.1304045	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0066287	0.0003392	-19.5393211	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0059999	0.0002627	-22.8422191	< 0.001	***
Topic 55 – Statements
Intercept	0.0211143	0.0000690	306.1720610	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0045075	0.0001842	-24.4766058	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0014974	0.0001317	-11.3713303	< 0.001	***
Topic 56 – European Union
Intercept	0.0163470	0.0001616	101.1587437	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0024144	0.0004584	-5.2664499	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0053826	0.0003343	-16.1017544	< 0.001	***
Topic 57 – Locations
Intercept	0.0100661	0.0001091	92.2792766	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0025097	0.0002668	-9.4073963	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0000332	0.0002083	0.1595476	0.87
Topic 58 – Jobs & manufacturing
Intercept	0.0175831	0.0001665	105.6181577	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0016175	0.0004333	-3.7329769	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0012071	0.0003447	3.5020846	< 0.001	***
Topic 59 – Small business
Intercept	0.0070676	0.0000732	96.5570190	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0005514	0.0001972	2.7956892	0.005	**
AWS	-0.0003676	0.0001461	-2.5164206	0.012
Topic 60 – Agreement & disagreement
Intercept	0.0328529	0.0001150	285.6388062	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0089905	0.0003040	-29.5722122	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0109407	0.0002057	-53.1886055	< 0.001	***
Topic 61 – Voluntary sector
Intercept	0.0187132	0.0001260	148.5162257	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0111211	0.0003694	30.1062250	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0056575	0.0002515	22.4926245	< 0.001	***
Topic 62 – Comments
Intercept	0.0152718	0.0000665	229.6327169	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0029210	0.0001694	-17.2420586	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0040215	0.0001215	-33.0857000	< 0.001	***
Topic 63 – Social care
Intercept	0.0090458	0.0001161	77.9441211	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0094907	0.0003834	24.7509317	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0073850	0.0002788	26.4862992	< 0.001	***
Topic 64 – Time
Intercept	0.0213817	0.0000675	316.5606944	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0020756	0.0001747	-11.8788730	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0016513	0.0001438	-11.4861530	< 0.001	***
Topic 65 – Media & animals
Intercept	0.0121376	0.0001647	73.6805837	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	-0.0057140	0.0004053	-14.0975598	< 0.001	***
AWS	-0.0017731	0.0003155	-5.6195042	< 0.001	***
Topic 66 – Other
Intercept	0.0038249	0.0000116	330.2711899	< 0.001	***
Non-AWS	0.0002528	0.0000294	8.5949370	< 0.001	***
AWS	0.0003065	0.0000250	12.2518082	< 0.001	***

Table 10 shows the number and percentage of speeches assigned to each topic, based on its \(\theta\) value. The results in this table differ slightly from those in Table 9, as it uses a “winner-take-all” method to assign an overall topic to each speech, rather than a prevalence of a given topic across all speeches.

Count and Distribution of Topics

Topic	AWS Speeches	Percent of AWS Speeches	Non-AWS Speeches	Percent of non-AWS Speeches	Male MP Speeches	Percent of Male MP Speeches
Employment & unions	452	0.84%	260	0.93%	2,149	1.27%
Legal system	865	1.61%	1,096	3.93%	3,884	2.29%
Roads	558	1.04%	298	1.07%	2,142	1.26%
Housing	1,383	2.57%	665	2.39%	2,416	1.43%
Police, firefighters & prison	1,046	1.94%	709	2.54%	3,353	1.98%
Northern Ireland	221	0.41%	66	0.24%	603	0.36%
Committee	1,050	1.95%	492	1.77%	3,888	2.29%
Schools	1,367	2.54%	522	1.87%	3,780	2.23%
Energy & climate change	1,105	2.05%	745	2.67%	4,630	2.73%
Defence	794	1.48%	280	1.00%	3,999	2.36%
Parliament	375	0.70%	85	0.31%	1,079	0.64%
International politics	289	0.54%	161	0.58%	2,021	1.19%
Ministers	872	1.62%	242	0.87%	2,083	1.23%
Policy impact	242	0.45%	68	0.24%	417	0.25%
Gender	1,257	2.34%	701	2.52%	551	0.33%
Regional development	931	1.73%	710	2.55%	2,704	1.60%
Communications	385	0.72%	287	1.03%	1,751	1.03%
Immigration	425	0.79%	220	0.79%	1,218	0.72%
Health system	2,149	4.00%	1,489	5.34%	4,682	2.76%
International development	862	1.60%	687	2.47%	3,718	2.19%
Benefits & disability	1,888	3.51%	317	1.14%	2,101	1.24%
Sport & culture	846	1.57%	317	1.14%	2,628	1.55%
History	299	0.56%	140	0.50%	1,720	1.02%
Higher education & skills	974	1.81%	456	1.64%	3,501	2.07%
Concurring point	33	0.06%	9	0.03%	139	0.08%
Pensions	1,231	2.29%	529	1.90%	2,982	1.76%
Points of order	787	1.46%	230	0.83%	4,069	2.40%
Issues	1,618	3.01%	1,720	6.17%	6,745	3.98%
Constituencies	125	0.23%	30	0.11%	228	0.13%
Ethnic groups & racism	454	0.84%	203	0.73%	945	0.56%
Amendments	526	0.98%	317	1.14%	2,293	1.35%
Reports	536	1.00%	322	1.16%	1,488	0.88%
People	2,818	5.24%	1,048	3.76%	9,136	5.39%
Wales & Scotland	662	1.23%	224	0.80%	2,655	1.57%
Alcohol & tobacco	846	1.57%	336	1.21%	2,357	1.39%
Place names	163	0.30%	47	0.17%	447	0.26%
Budget	1,616	3.00%	668	2.40%	5,567	3.29%
Tax	2,149	4.00%	691	2.48%	4,562	2.69%
Private companies	452	0.84%	362	1.30%	1,794	1.06%
Environment & fishing	435	0.81%	186	0.67%	1,689	1.00%
Crime	1,408	2.62%	926	3.32%	3,073	1.81%
Bills	1,199	2.23%	931	3.34%	4,534	2.68%
Children	1,176	2.19%	631	2.26%	1,298	0.77%
Utilities & PFI	433	0.81%	175	0.63%	1,416	0.84%
Middle East	1,284	2.39%	588	2.11%	4,543	2.68%
Local authorities	1,050	1.95%	711	2.55%	3,686	2.18%
Elections	759	1.41%	240	0.86%	4,308	2.54%
Debate	422	0.78%	128	0.46%	1,364	0.81%
Transport	1,517	2.82%	546	1.96%	4,172	2.46%
Questions	390	0.73%	182	0.65%	1,115	0.66%
Families	786	1.46%	276	0.99%	1,169	0.69%
Health research	743	1.38%	591	2.12%	1,467	0.87%
Dispatch box	1	0.00%	NA	NA%	4	0.00%
Parties	879	1.63%	438	1.57%	5,053	2.98%
Statements	180	0.33%	79	0.28%	856	0.51%
European Union	769	1.43%	554	1.99%	3,949	2.33%
Locations	299	0.56%	126	0.45%	1,112	0.66%
Jobs & manufacturing	1,426	2.65%	586	2.10%	4,162	2.46%
Small business	229	0.43%	183	0.66%	791	0.47%
Agreement & disagreement	523	0.97%	275	0.99%	4,962	2.93%
Voluntary sector	1,307	2.43%	853	3.06%	2,480	1.46%
Comments	108	0.20%	95	0.34%	865	0.51%
Social care	865	1.61%	521	1.87%	1,187	0.70%
Time	208	0.39%	103	0.37%	930	0.55%
Media & animals	741	1.38%	190	0.68%	2,811	1.66%

5.1 Gender effect estimates

Estimate effects of different topics, using only gender.

Topic Estimates

	Estimate	Standard Error	t value	Pr(>|t|)
Topic 1 – Employment & unions
Intercept	0.0120558	0.0001226	98.2982598	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0009773	0.0002202	-4.4373689	< 0.001	***
Topic 2 – Legal system
Intercept	0.0167081	0.0001695	98.5906502	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0001904	0.0002876	0.6621819	0.51
Topic 3 – Roads
Intercept	0.0116843	0.0001466	79.6825193	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0018067	0.0002565	-7.0437191	< 0.001	***
Topic 4 – Housing
Intercept	0.0112593	0.0001766	63.7601028	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0054862	0.0002889	18.9886898	< 0.001	***
Topic 5 – Police, firefighters & prison
Intercept	0.0140240	0.0001728	81.1565375	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0008923	0.0002990	2.9842081	0.003	**
Topic 6 – Northern Ireland
Intercept	0.0089596	0.0000453	197.9376090	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0002230	0.0000831	-2.6833803	0.007	**
Topic 7 – Committee
Intercept	0.0213134	0.0001512	140.9203444	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0015285	0.0002328	-6.5672623	< 0.001	***
Topic 8 – Schools
Intercept	0.0147374	0.0001952	75.5156362	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0009837	0.0003469	2.8358887	0.005	**
Topic 9 – Energy & climate change
Intercept	0.0170306	0.0002011	84.6909082	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0026726	0.0003639	-7.3438573	< 0.001	***
Topic 10 – Defence
Intercept	0.0157848	0.0001844	85.5795520	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0061179	0.0003260	-18.7662038	< 0.001	***
Topic 11 – Parliament
Intercept	0.0119034	0.0000793	150.1066439	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0019536	0.0001431	-13.6535321	< 0.001	***
Topic 12 – International politics
Intercept	0.0125950	0.0001233	102.1756834	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0050772	0.0002152	-23.5953423	< 0.001	***
Topic 13 – Ministers
Intercept	0.0167095	0.0001075	155.4918804	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0011453	0.0001909	5.9990245	< 0.001	***
Topic 14 – Policy impact
Intercept	0.0115405	0.0000467	247.1534072	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0009546	0.0000873	10.9321624	< 0.001	***
Topic 15 – Gender
Intercept	0.0048719	0.0001169	41.6786074	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0121878	0.0002402	50.7432137	< 0.001	***
Topic 16 – Regional development
Intercept	0.0230320	0.0001267	181.8358615	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0026217	0.0002534	10.3464415	< 0.001	***
Topic 17 – Communications
Intercept	0.0097486	0.0001203	81.0660742	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0009969	0.0002068	-4.8214598	< 0.001	***
Topic 18 – Immigration
Intercept	0.0087113	0.0000879	99.0798879	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0000399	0.0001607	-0.2483047	0.80
Topic 19 – Health system
Intercept	0.0161813	0.0001963	82.4182372	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0079699	0.0003606	22.0990638	< 0.001	***
Topic 20 – International development
Intercept	0.0160467	0.0001888	84.9712499	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0020680	0.0003324	-6.2206476	< 0.001	***
Topic 21 – Benefits & disability
Intercept	0.0120721	0.0001443	83.6430500	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0080950	0.0002813	28.7771977	< 0.001	***
Topic 22 – Sport & culture
Intercept	0.0127416	0.0001522	83.7277733	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0003740	0.0002616	-1.4293244	0.15
Topic 23 – History
Intercept	0.0137582	0.0001119	122.9285059	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0046789	0.0001838	-25.4564522	< 0.001	***
Topic 24 – Higher education & skills
Intercept	0.0143325	0.0001639	87.4390370	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0004525	0.0002994	-1.5114308	0.13
Topic 25 – Concurring point
Intercept	0.0155206	0.0000466	332.8280261	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0026311	0.0000750	-35.0700318	< 0.001	***
Topic 26 – Pensions
Intercept	0.0147001	0.0001701	86.4362686	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0019916	0.0002808	7.0937838	< 0.001	***
Topic 27 – Points of order
Intercept	0.0177899	0.0001304	136.4542143	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0054036	0.0002161	-25.0001241	< 0.001	***
Topic 28 – Issues
Intercept	0.0345024	0.0000991	348.2518448	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0006762	0.0001717	3.9389187	< 0.001	***
Topic 29 – Constituencies
Intercept	0.0131792	0.0000538	245.0529092	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0023290	0.0001065	21.8782635	< 0.001	***
Topic 30 – Ethnic groups & racism
Intercept	0.0085781	0.0000726	118.0996216	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0019576	0.0001366	14.3255282	< 0.001	***
Topic 31 – Amendments
Intercept	0.0150300	0.0001583	94.9241895	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0028644	0.0002684	-10.6722265	< 0.001	***
Topic 32 – Reports
Intercept	0.0169717	0.0001105	153.6020779	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0012798	0.0001857	6.8932095	< 0.001	***
Topic 33 – People
Intercept	0.0377448	0.0001208	312.3638134	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0014525	0.0002100	-6.9162948	< 0.001	***
Topic 34 – Wales & Scotland
Intercept	0.0135395	0.0001542	87.8038603	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0031719	0.0002505	-12.6629961	< 0.001	***
Topic 35 – Alcohol & tobacco
Intercept	0.0108567	0.0001497	72.5174053	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0005344	0.0002870	1.8623926	0.063
Topic 36 – Place names
Intercept	0.0083655	0.0000671	124.7427562	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0007984	0.0001241	6.4322198	< 0.001	***
Topic 37 – Budget
Intercept	0.0246516	0.0001794	137.3766916	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0003427	0.0002989	-1.1463241	0.25
Topic 38 – Tax
Intercept	0.0193076	0.0001905	101.3312585	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0030527	0.0003316	9.2047863	< 0.001	***
Topic 39 – Private companies
Intercept	0.0123859	0.0001200	103.2265704	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0009558	0.0002224	-4.2971025	< 0.001	***
Topic 40 – Environment & fishing
Intercept	0.0094747	0.0001433	66.1392213	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0024778	0.0002424	-10.2204118	< 0.001	***
Topic 41 – Crime
Intercept	0.0141399	0.0001719	82.2729667	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0052400	0.0003121	16.7910290	< 0.001	***
Topic 42 – Bills
Intercept	0.0244361	0.0001510	161.8726636	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0012074	0.0002583	-4.6746393	< 0.001	***
Topic 43 – Children
Intercept	0.0076816	0.0001224	62.7703411	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0094493	0.0002446	38.6253202	< 0.001	***
Topic 44 – Utilities & PFI
Intercept	0.0123660	0.0000838	147.5182406	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0001332	0.0001597	-0.8336308	0.40
Topic 45 – Middle East
Intercept	0.0174587	0.0002090	83.5492976	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0020814	0.0003627	-5.7381267	< 0.001	***
Topic 46 – Local authorities
Intercept	0.0179820	0.0001455	123.5806929	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0015599	0.0002882	5.4129075	< 0.001	***
Topic 47 – Elections
Intercept	0.0181818	0.0001562	116.4335256	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0075881	0.0002715	-27.9527608	< 0.001	***
Topic 48 – Debate
Intercept	0.0180195	0.0000686	262.8627614	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0018249	0.0001230	-14.8305990	< 0.001	***
Topic 49 – Transport
Intercept	0.0163769	0.0001851	88.4732521	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0002980	0.0003461	-0.8609762	0.39
Topic 50 – Questions
Intercept	0.0161649	0.0000756	213.7358034	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0001674	0.0001300	1.2874523	0.20
Topic 51 – Families
Intercept	0.0101121	0.0001161	87.1131980	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0044915	0.0002511	17.8908688	< 0.001	***
Topic 52 – Health research
Intercept	0.0087860	0.0001605	54.7287657	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0050139	0.0002941	17.0467226	< 0.001	***
Topic 53 – Dispatch box
Intercept	0.0075484	0.0000252	299.2492191	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0010064	0.0000408	-24.6610302	< 0.001	***
Topic 54 – Parties
Intercept	0.0248256	0.0001508	164.6595307	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0062193	0.0002485	-25.0299952	< 0.001	***
Topic 55 – Statements
Intercept	0.0211080	0.0000663	318.4773224	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0025222	0.0001204	-20.9423749	< 0.001	***
Topic 56 – European Union
Intercept	0.0163672	0.0001678	97.5490397	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0044312	0.0002913	-15.2095098	< 0.001	***
Topic 57 – Locations
Intercept	0.0100684	0.0001063	94.7537127	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0008448	0.0001917	-4.4060051	< 0.001	***
Topic 58 – Jobs & manufacturing
Intercept	0.0176038	0.0001734	101.5152313	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0002192	0.0003130	0.7001742	0.48
Topic 59 – Small business
Intercept	0.0070549	0.0000703	100.3910783	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0000223	0.0001173	-0.1899731	0.85
Topic 60 – Agreement & disagreement
Intercept	0.0328360	0.0001081	303.8892524	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0102175	0.0001822	-56.0650145	< 0.001	***
Topic 61 – Voluntary sector
Intercept	0.0187333	0.0001139	164.5326954	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0075510	0.0002285	33.0471024	< 0.001	***
Topic 62 – Comments
Intercept	0.0152788	0.0000597	255.8200094	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0036510	0.0001006	-36.3055228	< 0.001	***
Topic 63 – Social care
Intercept	0.0090885	0.0001331	68.2815486	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0080707	0.0002302	35.0611376	< 0.001	***
Topic 64 – Time
Intercept	0.0213923	0.0000679	315.0245762	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0017936	0.0001260	-14.2325407	< 0.001	***
Topic 65 – Media & animals
Intercept	0.0121559	0.0001645	73.9171975	< 0.001	***
Female	-0.0030924	0.0002736	-11.3010314	< 0.001	***
Topic 66 – Other
Intercept	0.0038288	0.0000121	316.8868169	< 0.001	***
Female	0.0002873	0.0000199	14.4065798	< 0.001	***

5.2 \(\theta\) distribution

Figure shows the distribution of \(\theta\) scores used to assign overall topics to individual speeches in Table 10, per topic.

5.3 AWS References to Constituents in Context

A random selection of 2% of all references to “my constituency”, “my constituent” and “my constituents”, by AWS MPs, in context.

A random sample of KWIC’s

Pre	Keyword	Post
. I was briefed by a vehicle hire company in	my constituency	called Reflex and, quite frankly, if such banking
150 per cent. two years ago. Another of	my constituents	has advised me of an application for an 85 per
already begun, for example just over the border from	my constituency	in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member
in which Cornish children study. Three secondary schools in	my constituency	will be located on the same site, and one
Manchester has been doing a major infrastructure project, and	my constituents	are at the end of their tether about the lack
patient at the BRI, and Airedale hospital is in	my constituency	. The hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire Mr.
, but the reality is there to be seen in	my constituency	. On Saturday I met a delegation of workers from
to use their abilities and develop their talents. In	my constituency	, 366 young people who have been unemployed for more
I believe that the most effective electoral registration officer in	my constituency	is mum. It is mum who fills in the
can arise from defective gas appliances, because two of	my constituents	, young students in their 20s, died from carbon
£ 3.6 million. Some 9% of people in	my constituency	are hard-working, entrepreneurial self-employed people, and today is
my right hon. Friend congratulate Aldercar community school in	my constituency	and its staff and pupils? The percentage of pupils
", One particular concern for many of	my constituents	is bus fares. As I have said, my
, Jobs and employment are the biggest issue in	my constituency	and the latest figures now show that just under 2,000
otherwise reach. The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association is based in	my constituency	and was set up in 1959-it is no coincidence that
financial inclusion fund. Where would the Minister suggest that	my constituents	who are struggling with debt and excessive and escalating charges
and without the full participation of the British people,	my constituents	and the country will never forgive them.
. There is an additional problem that is relevant to	my constituency	. It contains a large outdoor venue called the National
if they continue to propose new services that, in	my constituents	’ view, favour the administration of the hospital or
in red tape. That will be a turn-off.	My constituency	and the town in which it is situated has a
With my right hon. Friend’s local knowledge of	my constituency	, she will know that many of my constituents are
", to close a wide range of services at	my constituency’s	local hospital, St Helier. Most of the controversy
I am extremely worried for	my constituents	in Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Failsworth, and for people
One of the shortlisted sites is at Barnard Castle in	my constituency	, and that would produce 1,000 jobs.
making ends meet has been raised with me repeatedly by	my constituents	, including Graeme McGrory, who cares for his partner
One piece of transport infrastructure that	my constituency	and that of the hon. Member for Buckingham John
A director of Sirus Automotive who lives in	my constituency	would like to take on apprentices, but he has
" Three people who know that better than most are	my constituents	Mark, Joanne and Ben King. In 2011,
There are 3,540 women affected by the changes in	my constituency	. Does my hon. Friend agree that the 1995
have been down in the detail of rail provision in	my constituency	, but these are important matters for many of those
just a few examples of the work being done in	my constituency	. I recently had the privilege of accompanying the Gateshead
, but that does not help the large number of	my constituents	who have lost some, if not all, of
was the only mainstream candidate in the general election in	my constituency	who did not have their picture taken while pointing to
was not even in the mortgage application, NatWest told	my constituents	that it was in the process of adding it.
is a measure of the Government’s achievement that people in	my constituency	and elsewhere in Northamptonshire can look forward to a secure
clothing company announced the closure of two more factories in	my constituency	and the neighbouring Erewash constituency. A huge number of
my primary care trust in north-east Derbyshire and dentists in	my constituency	to find a local solution. These reforms coincide with
Cross, just a few miles up the road from	my constituency	. That pipe manufacturing works has been taken over by
go ahead. There is huge concern about this in	my constituency	and across the north. Was the Prime Minister told
backgrounds, including poor backgrounds, and is representative of	my constituency	. That is the sort of school that Labour Members
are subject to a TPIM. This information would let	my constituents	know whether potential terrorism suspects had returned to London.
. Gentleman for his generosity. Is he aware that	my constituency	is probably the one with the highest number of gas
because I have had direct experience of the issue in	my constituency	. A woman came over here as the wife of
. Let us take the feed-in tariff fiasco. In	my constituency	alone, we are losing many jobs, because a
What practical advice can the Secretary of State give to	my constituents	, as some 3,000 householders in my constituency face a
sport, that this is good enough for kids in	my constituency	?
a fair deal on jobs, getting young people in	my constituency	and others involved in working our way out of the
argument is best explained by reference to the case of	my constituent	, Neil Kenny, who raised his concerns about the
to LEAs give rise to some questions, including in	my constituency	from Unison, which is concerned that LEAs might use
Such travel will be available to all 17,600 pensioners in	my constituency	. , In February I visited
", What point is there in forcing	my constituent	who is a single dad who has his two children
replies, perhaps he can respond to the questions that	my constituent	has raised. What is she to do? She
ask my hon. Friend to offer an undertaking to	my constituents	in Mitcham and Morden that an option appraisal of intermediate
he would be interested to hear the Minister’s response to	my constituent	Maureen Davenport. The Minister said that the maximum state
in child benefit, which will help 13,800 families in	my constituency	. My real reason for tabling the question is to
Finchley and Golders Green Mike Freer), many of	my constituents	killed by lorries have died at junctions, including some
Hall the plight of former United Engineering Forgings workers in	my constituency	who will not receive the returns from their final salary
London has had Oyster cards for nine years, but	my constituents	are still waiting. Although Transport for Greater Manchester is
again have a university. However, Nene college in	my constituency	hopes to change all that, and I support strongly
Enforcement Campaign-in Cardiff, and particularly to the work of	my constituent	, Professor John Shepherd, who works in the dental
and assets than non-disabled people. In London, where	my constituency	and the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member
in particular from the circumstances of students in Northampton.	My constituency	contains both a higher education and a further education college
the marine Bill on the grounds of its irrelevance to	my constituents	, because, like the hon. Lady, I
deepest concern for the families involved, especially given that	my constituency	neighbours that of my hon. Friend the Member for
services can expand on the slow line so that all	my constituents	benefit from the west coast main line upgrade?
rehabilitation. , The people of	my constituency	have been horrified by those cases, and it is
Labour Government we have achieved a tremendous amount. In	my constituency	the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance has almost halved
they complain? Where will the local accountability go?	My constituents	very much value the highly accessible local service that they
", Since helping the Jarrow marchers,	my constituency	has continued to welcome people from throughout the UK,
and not-for-profit groups, of which there are many in	my constituency	, doing immensely valuable work. They all too often
as soon as possible. Indeed, for some of	my constituents	, reform is already coming too late.
bus travel in Wales. I have met pensioners in	my constituency	who say that it has transformed their lives. As
and Sir Malcolm Thornton. All have represented part of	my constituency	and all left this House on 20 April or 1
Ports is the operator at the port of Immingham in	my constituency	. The companies there firmly believe that they have paid
Conservative-controlled Bradford city council excluded the wonderful Ilkley lido in	my constituency	from the free swimming initiative for young people and pensioners
for my hon. Friend’s reply, and many of	my constituents	who have come across the benefit integrity project will be
Tero was not properly treated and offer the apology that	my constituent	deserves.
about their corporate social responsibilities. For the sake of	my constituents	in Mitcham, Morden and Colliers Wood who want something
change in the law. Regrettably, not only in	my constituency	but in many northern towns and cities, I see
on an issue that has been of great concern to	my constituents	. While I appreciate the cross-party consensus that exists on
In	my constituency	of West Lancashire, the national lottery has supported 266
to meet the skills gap in engineering and construction in	my constituency	. , When I talk to
sat with the parents of the two children who were	my constituents	, as has Ken Livingstone, who made a private
who have been strongly encouraged to save The consultation in	my constituency	on the pensioners tax credit was extremely successful. The
Government for investing in the city of Bradford, helping	my constituents	to realise their potential. But in reality little has
visited Dot To Dot, a community arts project in	my constituency	. It has a good record of involving the community
one regret the fact that Westminster, which covers half	my constituency	, has so far concentrated CCTV bids-I am sure with
also significant gaps in the Bill. One example from	my constituency	concerns a community hydro project in Saddleworth that might not
hon. Friend for that reply, but most of	my constituents	probably do not know what a low carbon transition plan
has provided opportunities where there were none before. In	my constituency	, there have been far more opportunities in the past
to find examples of such practices. Another case in	my constituency	, with which I am dealing, involves elderly victims
. , The credit union in	my constituency	is fragile, because it serves an area in which
certainly applies to me because the acute trust that covers	my constituents	, who desperately need care, has the mother and
reveal a trend, and I see it happening in	my constituency	. It is a demonstrable fact that the polarisation between
	My constituent	, John Warren, has specifically asked me to raise
, Bridges Project in Musselburgh in	my constituency	does a brilliant job in supporting young people. A
Spowart, a small firm of legal aid solicitors in	my constituency	. Solicitors at the firm are paid generally between £
, both as a national concern and as it affects	my constituency	. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for
, nor, sadly, are far too many of	my constituents	.
	My constituents	in Hull are baffled by the Government’s approach. At
issue and go after these criminals who are preying on	my constituents	?
even begin for another 12 months. Young people in	my constituency	should not have to spend another year on the dole
with the nutrition they need outside term time. In	my constituency	, several schools run summer programmes funded through the pupil
takes umbrage at being forced to do repairs-as some of	my constituents	, sadly, know to their cost.
", I recently visited a care home in	my constituency	that is provided by a small charity and is rated
House and members of the armed forces, such as	my constituent	, 19-year-old Private James Kenny of C company, 3rd
as out to Kent. There are seven stations in	my constituency	: Hither Green, Blackheath, Lee, Grove Park
Can my right hon. Friend give any assurance to	my constituent	, Mr. Peter Dyson, who has written to
Commons Library to conduct an analysis of the impact in	my constituency	. I discovered that 4,300 women and 3,800 men would
100 days of the new Parliament? Many businesses in	my constituency	are struggling significantly and would undoubtedly welcome a period of
in 1992, as the Member for Woolwich, before	my constituency	was formed for the 1997 election. John Austin is
were building up and seemed to take action only once	my constituents	had suffered a very high level of nuisance and there
that further education institutions, such as Blackburn College in	my constituency	, will not receive a real-terms funding cut as a
", On a more serious note,	my constituency	is home to manufacturers varying from Corus to Cadbury,
costs and cuts to working tax credits, families in	my constituency	will be worse off. I will not vote in
be warm. It paid for basics like that in	my constituency	. I will not revisit the pain of tuition fees
is a national issue. The 900 steel workers in	my constituency	whose jobs are on the line expect him to guarantee
to begin by speaking about the NHS as experienced by	my constituents	. Getting an appointment to see a GP can be
I was struck by what one of	my constituents	said last weekend, which was that the attacks that
", On 18 February, Llandudno in	my constituency	hosted the first North Wales criminal justice board conference.
my hon. Friend foresee for the young people in	my constituency	if they are to suffer possible cuts alongside that idiosyncratic
busways and widen the M1. Is he aware that	my constituency	will have the new Translink guided busway by 2008 due
" Last week, I hosted a jobs fair in	my constituency	, as have many hon. Members on both sides
in the south-east will be dealt with in Parliament?	My constituents	want to know where we are going and what the
him to visit the brand-new children’s centre in Elland in	my constituency	, which is due to open in January, and
realities for people affected by this situation. One of	my constituents	is stuck out in Saudi Arabia. His work has
the past few days. When the problems started in	my constituency	on Monday night, we saw copycat criminality, mindless
those branches, in Catford and Blackheath, are in	my constituency	and two others, in Lewisham and Greenwich, are
	My constituent	, Richard Belmar, has now spent nearly three years
Postwatch because I am unhappy about the consultation process in	my constituency	. I fully accept many of my hon. Friend’s
area of Keighley last Friday and talking to many of	my constituents	and taking on board many of their anxieties. On
of the major issues raised with me by carers in	my constituency	. We must take such issues on board.
that the voucher company Farepak, which is based in	my constituency	, collapsed this week, robbing thousands of people on
scientific reports recommend restricted phone use by younger children.	My constituents	do not believe that such recommendations tally with the telecommunications
. Mullin). This is a big issue in	my constituency	, where inappropriate development on garden sites is taking place
scrutiny process, but it is impossible for me,	my constituents	or councillors of any party not involved in that enterprise
", At the time, I was consulting	my constituents	about their attitudes to crime and antisocial behaviour, and
you prove it? ,	My constituency	is served by two hospitals: Dewsbury and District hospital
% reduction. What reassurances can the Minister give to	my constituents	and firefighters that those latest cuts will not jeopardise or
. , Horwich visiting service in	my constituency	has lost funding and can no longer employ its part-time
I have spoken to many businesses in	my constituency	. Will the hon. Gentleman concede that the Government’s
prevent businesses from going into administration, as many in	my constituency	are likely to do. Finally, the local authority
I do not know whether my experience in	my constituency	has been exactly the same as that of my right
? , Many SMEs operate in	my constituency	, and I want to ensure that the skills base
that population live in Salford, the local authority for	my constituency	. , In last year’s debate
It is an issue that has been simmering away in	my constituency	and recently the rumours have turned to reality as the
of the parenting lessons that go on in schools in	my constituency	to great effect. The hon. Gentleman ignores those
a distraught couple who run a hedgehog rescue centre in	my constituency	. They are currently nursing back to health a hedgehog
people to think that that was the total sum of	my constituency	. It is an extremely nice place to spend Christmas
transparency about the impact. ,	My constituents	are also anxious about the Government’s proposals to allow fracking
some of its provisions will have on vulnerable people in	my constituency	. , I shall first raise
key elements of creative business growth. Creative businesses in	my constituency	and in a large area to the west of London
In Pembrokeshire we have two oil refineries, one in	my constituency	. They were both affected by the blockades in September
thank the Minister for his reply. Head teachers in	my constituency	are concerned that Government have still not come forward with
the work of local authorities in my area. In	my constituency	, there are no high profile arts venues that hit
many of the early asbestosis claims from Hebden Bridge in	my constituency	might not have succeeded under the proposed 75 per cent
job first.  ,	My constituency	is pronounced  Erreywash , not
that is not regulated properly, with the result that	my constituents	, who have small sums of money available to invest
a picture of the winning design, but people in	my constituency	have seen many pictures before. I want work to
hour. I have written to all the headteachers in	my constituency	over the last few weeks, and they tell me
this debate falls on an anniversary well worth remembering for	my constituents	. It is 20 years to the month that post-war
people of the east end, including the people of	my constituency	, talk to me about how excited they still are
I recently visited Bishop Barrington school in	my constituency	, which has got a new science lab and sports
the extent of the disruption and the problems caused for	my constituents	? I would be happy to do that.
increase in the number of new homes being built in	my constituency	over the past 10 years or so. For the
junior doctors who are the problem, but him?	My constituents-hundreds	of whom have written to me-overwhelmingly feel that he has
, , I do not think	my constituents	knew whether to laugh or cry.
about to be built in Walkden in the centre of	my constituency	. The new local improvement finance trust-LIFT-centre will include GP
is higher, and the dole queue is lengthening.	My constituents	are only too well aware of the exploitative practices of
" I am fortunate in having a research centre in	my constituency	at the university of Durham, which concentrates on enabling
is talking about the wrong hospital, which many of	my constituents	will find most amusing.
of the Land Registry would be bad not just for	my constituents	but for the public as a whole. The revenue
The food banks in	my constituency	, which currently number at least six, tell me
of those issues. , In	my constituency	, the credit union benefits from capital and revenue from
children. I am indebted to a law company in	my constituency	called Just for Kids Law, which has raised with
hope they are not giving false hope to many of	my constituents	. Will they just admit that they have made a
I have a range of energy-intensive industries in	my constituency	, including steel, glass, paper and the entire
the save Lewisham hospital campaign. But for now,	my constituents	still face the prospect of seriously downgraded services at their
from and bugbear for my constituents. On behalf of	my constituents	and their families, I very much look forward to
", helped motorists and the hard-pressed hauliers in	my constituency-or	they could have looked at jobs for young people.
Staff at Trinity, Bluecoat and Fernwood schools in	my constituency	are desperate for extra investment in their buildings. Will
The point about geography is critical in Cumbria, where	my constituency	is. Under the proposals, we will end up
will affect disabled youngsters. The What? centre in	my constituency	, which gives counselling to all youngsters, still does
closure of the offices is having a direct impact on	my constituency	. Walsall faces the closure of its HMRC office,
. , Frustration is evident among	my constituents	: for many years, they have felt marginalised and
, larger numbers of people are choosing to live in	my constituency	but work in London. If we are to take
ethnic minority children, of whom there are many in	my constituency	. , We have dealt a
single parents in the country-I will return to that point-and	my constituents	think that the measure is unfair. How people in
should not come back from our holidays to find that	my constituents	, and those of my neighbours, have lost their
their area; I fully intend to do so in	my constituency	. , We also need better
too much movement. I want Airedale general hospital in	my constituency	not just to survive, but to prosper. It
", During the summer and autumn months,	my constituents	and those of many other hon. Members were affected
put a human face on many of the difficulties that	my constituents	experience. , In Newham,
Parent Action Network, which has its national headquarters in	my constituency	. It has just received nearly £ 400,000 in lottery
sector. On Friday, an independent community pharmacist in	my constituency	told me that he estimated that the Government cuts would
it becomes an empty gesture. A community group in	my constituency	is setting up a community development trust, and it
since June and doubled since 2006. Young people in	my constituency	have been particularly badly hit, with a 288%
police get back to strength to defend the people in	my constituency	of Mitcham and Morden?
to address have been influenced by what has happened in	my constituency	in the past 10 days as a series of incidents
, including those of Allied Steel and Wire’s pensioners in	my constituency	? They took the case to court through the unions
Indeed, it is a stealth cut. In	my constituency	, the Tories will have to make stealth cuts such
communities across the UK. I understand the concerns of	my constituents	. I understand that when a family from a different
a vested interest in ensuring the safety and security of	my constituency	, which in the past has been a military target
infrastructure project is a massive economic opportunity for Wales and	my constituency	in particular. Will the Minister assure the House that
Nottingham that stands to lose most is the Meadows in	my constituency	. Before the last election, the Meadows, one
am here this afternoon specifically to represent the concerns of	my constituents	who are trade union members in Parliament, as they
. Nothing could be further from the truth, as	my constituency	exemplifies. As I have already said, I represent
making are the very ones that have been made by	my constituents	, by the constituents of my hon. Friends and-I
, but wanted to take the opportunity to read out	my constituent’s	comments so that Ministers understand the worry and concern.
firm of Hickman and Rose, which is based in	my constituency	? She was due to speak at a conference organised
Majesty’s Opposition. That public money could be used for	my constituent	Grace Ryder, aged 9, who was recently diagnosed
changes that will affect 650 families and 1,500 children in	my constituency	. , These are ideologically driven
deal more about the birdlife in both estuaries that surround	my constituency	. , The Bill establishes a
	My constituent	, the wonderful campaigner Marie Lyons, has doggedly pursued
vote for their Muslim brother .	My constituents	were told that that was their religious duty. When
. It will bring huge benefits to many families in	my constituency	who are on low or not very generous incomes.
anywhere. , The diversity of	my constituency	is one of the reasons why it is the best
c The NHS in	my constituency	has moved beyond special measures into the success regime.
invited my right hon. and learned Friend to meet	my constituents	to hear what they think about our local NHS.
fleeing Ebola-affected countries are not left destitute and homeless?	My constituents	, Mr and Mrs Mahmood, have been working in
pension credit, but I wondered whether Ministers could give	my constituent	and me advice on whether the notional sum tied up
first home. There are so many young people in	my constituency	who see homes priced out of their reach and for
There are also problems for low-income families, such as	my constituent	on Colleymoor Leys lane who says:
term. I know from the experience of businesses in	my constituency	and in the surrounding west midlands area that New Street
that he needs those, but he failed to tell	my constituents	watching yesterday that a 1p cut in duty will not
average, which show that over a fifth-22% in	my constituency-of	people who resort to food banks for an emergency food